GIRLS ON THE LINE, by author, AIMIE K. RUNYAN

This fantastic book will be out tomorrow, November 6th!

From the celebrated author of Daughters of the Night Sky comes a stirring novel inspired by the courage, dedication, and love of the unsung heroines of the Great War.

December 1917. As World War I rages in Europe, twenty-four-year-old Ruby Wagner, the jewel in a prominent Philadelphia family, prepares for her upcoming wedding to a society scion. Like her life so far, it’s all been carefully arranged. But when her beloved older brother is killed in combat, Ruby follows her heart and answers the Army Signal Corps’ call for women operators to help overseas.

As one of the trailblazing “Hello Girls” deployed to war-torn France, Ruby must find her place in the military strata, fight for authority and respect among the Allied soldiers, and forge a victory for the cause. But balancing service to country becomes even more complicated by a burgeoning relationship with army medic Andrew Carrigan.

What begins as a friendship forged on the front lines soon blossoms into something more, forcing Ruby to choose between the conventions of a well-ordered life back home and the risk of an unknown future. 

“Girls on the Line brings to vivid life the unknown story of American women who served on the front lines of World War I as telephone operators, working under shellfire and exhaustion to keep front-line officers connected during battle. Philadelphia socialite Ruby battles family disapproval to volunteer at the front, finding camaraderie and sisterhood among her fellow operators who risk their lives as much as any soldier and fight to be accepted as soldiers in their own right. Runyan illuminates these little-known women of the past in a moving tale of female solidarity and courage.” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network

“A worthy war narrative with a strong, likable female lead and a solid supporting cast.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An intriguing and original novel inspired by the female telephone operators of WWI, Girls on the Line will delight fans of historical fiction. Now is the time for stories about strong, courageous women, and through her heroine, Ruby Wagner, Aimie K. Runyan crafts an absorbing tribute to a group of extraordinary women who played a vital role in the war.” —Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author

“Once again Aimie K. Runyan shines a much-deserved spotlight on unsung female heroes in history. Set during the First World War, Girls on the Line follows the arduous journey of an army telephone operator forced to navigate a world of codes and spies and the complexities of love. Brimming with strong women who are easy to root for, this story of loyalty and sacrifice make for an inspiring, heartfelt read.” —Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of The Edge of Lost

“Runyan brings America’s first women soldiers back to life in a heartfelt tale of love, loss, heroism, and war.” —Elizabeth Cobbs, author of The Hello Girls

Some Q & A with Aimie ~

Tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you started writing.

·       I started writing stories when I was little. I’d take my ancient Mac into the living room and type away while the family watched TV. Obviously, they were dreadful and I rarely finished anything. My English teachers always loved my work, but even by the time I hit middle school, there were enough people pointing out how difficult it was to make a living while writing, that I never pursued it. Finally, when I hit my 30s and I started to care a lot less about public perception and rejection, I finally dove back into a story I’d shelved ten years before. That story would become Promised to the Crown.

What are some things you enjoy when not writing?

·       Musical theater, baking, hiking, spending time with my kiddos, and traveling, just to name a few.

Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?

·       I am very fortunate that writing is my full-time gig.

Where do you get your ideas?

·       My first two were inspired by a lecture in a Canadian Civ class 15 years ago, the next two by news articles sent to me by friends, and my WIP was sparked during a conversation with a friend of a friend (now dear friend) who was moving to my area. So it’s pretty much a random run of happenstance.

Is there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or decision to write?

·       Ken Follett and Philippa Gregory were hugely influential in my writing. They both have the capacity to write beautifully nuanced, dutifully researched books that are still highly readable. That’s always what I endeavor to do.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

·       It was an unusual time period to write about (Colonial Canada) and with little over-arching tension, like a war. It took a leap of faith from an editor to take it on, and it took the success of my third book to help launch the first into the spotlight.

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you’d change?

·       I would have made one more revision to my debut before taking it on submission. I think more choices would have been available to me if I’d added another layer of polish to my debut. Then again, it would be a completely different book if I wrote it now, and the market has shifted even since 2014 when I signed my first contract, so it’s impossible to know what the outcome would be if I were to do it all over again.

What are you working on now?

·       A tripe timeline WWII family saga. It’s been intense so far! It’s called Across the Winding River and will be out in January 2020.

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?

·       Most of Girls on the Line is based on journal entries and correspondence from the real women who served as phone operators in the first world war. Lots of anecdotes repurposed, lots of real events.

Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?

·       I love the scene where Andrew takes Ruby to Joan of Arc’s birthplace. Women warriors have to band together!

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

·       Stop aspiring, start writing. Make a schedule that you can stick to and keep to it. Evaluate what you’re doing every so often and make changes to maximize your productivity. That will never involve forgoing sleep or exercise.

Place you’d like to travel?

·       I love to travel, so that changes daily, but at the moment, New Zealand is calling. Would love love love to see those beautiful green hills!

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?

·       Thank you so much for all your support. To be able to share my stories with the world truly is a gift. 

To connect with Aimie:

· Author Website: www.aimiekrunyan.com

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aimie.runyan.author

· Twitter: @aimiekrunyan https://twitter.com/aimiekrunyan

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aimiekrunyan/

· Goodreads: goodreads.com/AimieKRunyan

THE DREAM DAUGHTER, by author DIANE CHAMBERLAIN

***Don't forget to pre-order this book! Debuts October 2nd.

New York Times bestselling author Diane Chamberlain delivers a thrilling, mind-bending novel about one mother's journey to save her child.

When Carly Sears, a young woman widowed by the Vietnam war, receives the news that her unborn baby girl has a heart defect, she is devastated. It is 1970, and she is told that nothing can be done to help her child. But her brother-in-law, a physicist with a mysterious past, tells her that perhaps there is a way to save her baby. What he suggests is something that will shatter every preconceived notion that Carly has. Something that will require a kind of strength and courage she never knew existed. Something that will mean an unimaginable leap of faith on Carly's part.

And all for the love of her unborn child.

The Dream Daughter is a rich, genre-spanning, breathtaking novel about one mother's quest to save her child, unite her family, and believe in the unbelievable. Diane Chamberlain pushes the boundaries of faith and science to deliver a novel that you will never forget.

Praise for The Dream Daughter:

"Chamberlain writes with supernatural gifts...fate, destiny, chance and hope combine for a heady and breathless wonder of a read." —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan's Tale

"Can a story be both mind-bending and heartfelt? In Diane Chamberlain’s hands, it can. The Dream Daughter will hold readers in anxious suspense until the last satisfying page." —Therese Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of Z

Some Q & A with Diane:


Tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you started writing.

My first novel, Private Relations, was published in 1989. My most recent, The Dream Daughter, is my twenty-sixth novel, so I have had a very long and enjoyable career.

What are some things you enjoy when not writing?

Writing started out as my hobby (thirty-five years ago!). After my first few books, I realized it was now work (albeit, work that I love) and I could no longer really consider it a hobby. I became hobby-less at that point. For a number of years I was involved in dog training with my golden retrievers, but once I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis, I had to give that up, so I was hobby-less once more. Then three years ago, I began going to a meet-up group where we play guitars and sing. It’s very casual and tons of fun, so that is now my hobby and I love it.  

Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?

Not any longer. In the early days, I was also a social worker, first in hospitals and then in private practice. Social work--or really any career in which you work closely with people—gives you a great background for writing fiction as you gain a good understanding of people and what makes them tick. When young people tell me they want to major in creative writing in college, I try to talk them into making that their minor while picking a more people-centric major that will pay the bills while they learn more about human relations while getting their writing career off the ground.

Is there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or decision to write?

Most definitely Charlotte’s Web. My first-grade teacher read it to us and I suddenly realized a human being could create a story that made me feel various emotions. I knew even at that young age that I wanted to do the same.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

My first challenge was that I needed to write on a typewriter back then!  Imagine the pain of changing even one word in a typewritten manuscript! The final draft was 700 terrible pages, but by some miracle, I was able to get an agent. The story was about five adults who lived together at the New Jersey shore. Midway through the story, they turned the house into a halfway house for runaway kids. My agent sent it out for a year but it was rejected over and over again, always with the same advice: lose the kids and focus on the romance between one of the men and women in the house. After all those rejections, I finally took their advice and Private Relations was picked up immediately by a publisher. It went on to win the Rita Award for best single title contemporary of 1989.

How do you market your work?

I don’t do any marketing myself other than keeping a relationship with my readers through social media, something I enjoy tremendously. I adore my readers! I am fortunate in that my publisher does great marketing for me.

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?

The Dream Daughter is my most recent book. I was thinking back to my days as a social worker in the maternity unit of a hospital, remembering those babies who didn’t survive because of some condition that couldn’t be treated in the early eighties but could be treated today. That prompted the idea for Dream Daughter. What if a pregnant woman in 1970 learns that the baby she’s carrying will definitely die? But then she learns that in 2001, there may be a way to save her baby’s life . . . and there is a way to get there. Would you make that journey to save your child?

Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?

A few! Without giving too much away, my protagonist Carly learns that in order to travel to 2001 to save her baby, she must step off something that is at least 16 feet above the ground in the middle of the night. The scene where she first takes this leap of faith will always be one of my favorites.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Just do it. I have the sloppiest first drafts you can imagine, but I know the hardest—and most important—part of writing a novel is simply getting those words down on paper. As my friend, novelist Mary Kay Andrews, says, “You can’t revise what you haven’t written.”

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?

I wanted to write The Dream Daughter for many years but was afraid my readers wouldn’t come along with me into a book that contains time travel. I think I was very wrong, judging from the early reader reviews!  People seem to go into the book with some trepidation but quickly fall in love with the story and the characters. I can’t wait to hear from more readers. I hope they’ll let me know what they think!

To connect with Diane ~ 

https://www.facebook.com/Diane.Chamberlain.Readers.Page/

http://dianechamberlain.com/

More amazing BOOK PROMOTERS/BLOGGERS that YOU should follow!

This is my third post honoring and recognizing some of the many book promoters who blog, post, review, promote, and help readers and authors connect with books. I hope you take the time to read about them and follow them on social media (and check out the previous posts!) 

Reading With Robin, hosted by Robin Kall:

Reading With Robin began in 2002 as a radio show. I hosted the show on WHJJ 920AM Saturday mornings at 7AM for 10 years interviewing authors such as: Jodi Picoult, Augusten Burroughs, Jennifer Weiner, Elizabeth Berg, Alice Hoffman, Chris Bohjalian, Tom Perrotta, Henry Winkler, Adriana Trigiani - the list goes on. I currently host the show on iTunes - the Reading With Robin podcast contains the same interview style with awesome authors but without the commercials :)

Recent guests include: Caroline Kepnes, Mary Alice Monroe, Mary Kay Andrews, Amy Bloom, Kelly Corrigan, Jennifer Egan, Stephen Chbosky, Jen Lancaster, and Judy Blundell. I am currently reading books for spring/summer ’19 and am looking forward to sharing the pick of the litter with my readers. There are currently over 10,000 fans on the Reading With Robin page which is where I like to share books I’m enjoying, books I’m excited to read, with exclusive giveaways and photos of my pup, Benny Irving!

I also host a monthly author series in Providence, RI called The Point Street Reading Series. Started in the spring of 2016 this award-winning series is THE place to be on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. We have hosted over 150 authors in the series including: Lucy Tan, Ann Leary, Stephen Kiernan, Sam Graham-Felsen, Hala Alyan, Courtney Maum, Rob Spillman, and David Leite. We like to say we have something for everyone from fiction, memoir, YA, and non-fiction.

Reading With Robin hosts 2 signature events each year - Evening With Authors and Summer With Robin. These events are “in conversation” panel events which I lead. Alice Hoffman, Courtney Sullivan, John Searles, Wally Lamb, Nicole Krauss, Lauren Weisberger, Wiley Cash, Emma Straub, Jen Lancaster, and Chris Bohjalian are some of the authors I’ve hosted through the years. I am hosting Liane Moriarty this November for the kick-off of her US tour and I am really excited about that. I have lots more coming up so please stay tuned to the Facebook pages and my website.

my web page is www.robinkall.com

facebook pages (3)- Reading With Robin, 

Point Street Reading Series, and Like Daughter Like Mother

@robinkall -Twitter

@robinkallink - instagram

Bookworms Anonymous, hosted by Kayleigh Wilkes:

In 2013, I was newly a stay at home mom, with a newborn, toddler, and kindergartener, living nearly an hour from everyone I knew. I'd started a group, then called the Book Nook, for friends and I to have a monthly book club, without stressing meetups. It kind of fell to the wayside, and I began seeking out other bookish groups. 

None of them quite met what I was hoping for, so I went back to my original one in 2015. I started sharing where I could change the name to Bookworms Anonymous, and it really took off! I was looking to build a space for not just the people who love to read, but those who write the books too. I wanted a place where authors could share their book babies, readers could find a friend who is reading the same book and talk about it, and readers and authors could connect with one another. Growing up, I read Dear Mr. Henshaw, and I loved the idea of regular chatting. 

In just 3 years, we have more than 5,000 members worldwide, many authors included. We host week takeovers, one on one time with the authors. We've had grand scale takeover events. We've given away hundreds of books with the authors! It's been an amazing experience to watch this group grow, and make friends everywhere with one thing in common, the love of a good book. 

I'll forever be thankful I was a bored stay at home mom. Some people don't understand because it's "just a Facebook group," but it's enriched my life in ways I never thought would be possible!

www.facebook.com/groups/bookwormsanonymous15

www.facebook.com/bookwormsanonymous1

www.instagram.com/bookwormsanonymous15

Tarheelreader, hosted by Jennifer:

I love books, and I love authors! I found myself making friends with and supporting book bloggers, so it felt like the next natural step to start a blog. I was writing reviews on Goodreads, so why not have them all in one place. When I started my blog in May, I had no idea how quickly it would take off, and how warm and welcoming the blogging community would be.

Checking WordPress for my friends’ reviews is one of the best parts of my day. If you check out my blog, you’ll see my love of three things coming together: books, photography, and flowers/plants! Most of my flowers come from my yard because I enjoy gardening in the spring and summer. 

I am an eclectic reader, and the genres I enjoy most are general fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, cross-cultural fiction, contemporary fiction/women’s fiction, psychological thrillers/domestic suspense/domestic dramas, romcoms, and mysteries. 

Blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com 

Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarheelfit1/  (soon to be): https://www.instagram.com/tarheel

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/32340179-jennifer-tarheelreader

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/tarheelfit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/6BookBesties/?ref=br_tf 

Littlebookpage, hosted by Stephanie Ward:

A little about myself and why I love to promote books and authors...

Always an avid reader, a registered nurse by trade, and now a stay at home mom of busy 10yr old twins I had more time to share my thoughts about the books I read on my Facebook page. 

Friends started coming to me for book and author recommendations, I began entering contests, joining book groups and author pages and in general becoming a social media book nerd; clogging up my personal page with all things bookish! I started  Littlebookpage as a way to share my passion for reading and support many wonderful authors. I enjoy reading women’s fiction, chick lit, mysteries and thrillers, historical fiction, and romance. 

Reviewing and promoting has kind of taken off for me and as Littlebookpage grows I would love to be able to host blog tours and giveaways but for now I’m thrilled to be a part of such a wonderfully passionate and positive community of authors and readers!

Https://www.instgram.com/littlebookpage

https://m.facebook.com/Littlebookpage-192613211319741/

Twitter @Littlebookpage https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2708613936

SOLD ON A MONDAY, by KRISTINA MCMORRIS

From New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris comes another unforgettable novel inspired by a stunning piece of history.  
SOLD ON A MONDAY debuts August 28th!

2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931 but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs, and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices.

For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined.

At the paper, Lillian Palmer is haunted by her role in all that happened. She is far too familiar with the heartbreak of children deemed unwanted. As the bonds of motherhood are tested, she and Ellis must decide how much they are willing to risk to mend a fractured family.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and the unexpected paths that bring us home.

Reviews ~

“Kristina McMorris does what few writers can—transport me right into the middle of the story.” 

—Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants

“The sale of two young children leads to devastating consequences in this historical tearjerker from McMorris...A tender love story enriches a complex plot, giving readers a story with grit, substance, and rich historical detail.” 

—Publishers Weekly

“A masterpiece that poignantly echoes universal themes of loss and redemption, Sold on a Monday is both heartfelt and heartbreaking.”

—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale

Be sure to click on the book trailer (here) to learn more about Kristina's research for the book (great photos included!) book trailer:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwAHWG2zdmo

Some Q & A with Kristina:

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Well, I’m a married mom of two fantastic boys, ages 12 and 14 (both going on 40), and a native of Portland, Oregon—proven by my webbed feet and principled lack of an umbrella. Before delving into the book world, I was a weekly TV-show host starting with a fun kids’ program when I was nine (which I somehow landed by falling off a chair at the audition—yes, really), then a PR Director of an international conglomerate, as well as the owner of a wedding- and event-planning company until I’d reached my max of drunken YMCA and chicken dances. As for my heritage, I’m of Irish and Japanese descent, a pretty confusing mix that should explain a lot about me.

How did you start writing?

I usually call myself the “accidental author,” since I’d never planned to become a writer. But then a handful of years ago, I was interviewing my grandmother for the biographical section of a homemade cookbook to be given out as Christmas gifts for the family. That’s when she shared how she and my late grandfather had dated only twice during WWII, fell in love through letters, and were married until he passed away fifty years later. Then she pulled out of the closet her whole collection of courtship letters, all written by a 19-year-old sailor who didn’t know if he’d ever be coming home.

When I left her house, I started to wonder how well two people could truly know each other through letters alone. What if the words on those pages weren’t entirely truthful? Before long, I decided to sit down and try my hand at writing what eventually became my debut novel, Letters from Home.

Where do you get your ideas?

For all of my stories since my first novel, I happened to stumble upon a fascinating piece of history that made me think, How did I not know about this before? Other people should know about this! For instance, the startling fact that more than two hundred non-Japanese spouses actually lived in the WWII internment camps voluntarily formed the basis of my second novel, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. The idea for The Pieces We Keep came to me when I discovered a declassified account about German saboteurs who were dropped off by U-Boat on the East Coast of America in 1942. And when I learned that the children of prison staff used to live on Alcatraz Island, next door to the likes of Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly, I knew I had the premise of The Edge of Lost.

In short, I like to joke that my novels are essentially literary Advil, in that readers get the sugarcoating of a story on the outside and likely don’t realize how much good stuff (i.e. history) they’re also getting until they finish the book.

Is there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or decision to write?

When I sold my debut novel, I had a second book on the contract. Writing about WWII took such an incredible amount of research that I was seriously considering switching to a present-day setting for the next novel. But then I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, and I realized that, even though I enjoy reading other genres, none of them allow me to completely lose myself in a story like historicals. So, I knew that’s definitely what I needed to keep writing.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

You mean, how many letters do I have in my big ol’ rejection file? Uh… a lot. As in, at least sixty. Partly, of course, because I was still learning how to tell a story that pulled a reader in. I was also learning how to write an effective query letter. But the most common response from agents that I can now laugh at was: Sorry, but there’s just no market for WWII.

Just goes to show you: write the story that you’re most passionate about, the one you’d most want to read. Not the one that simply chases a trend.

Is anything in your latest book, Sold on a Monday, based on real-life experiences?

While the story is fictional, the inspiration for it came from a newspaper photo first published in 1948. Next to a small group of young children huddled on a stoop was a sign that read: 4 CHILDREN FOR SALE – INQUIRE WITHIN. And in the background stood a mother, shielding her face from the camera. As a mom myself, the picture grabbed hold of my heart and continued to haunt me for months. Eventually, I did some research, and in a follow-up article about the photographed kids, I read a startling sentence that completely changed how I viewed the photo. And that’s when the premise of Sold on a Monday really took shape.

Do you have any more advice for aspiring writers?

I’d say, when it comes to constructive criticism, lower your defenses and listen with open ears, but treat feedback like a cafeteria line: pick and choose what works for you. I think every writer, when coming from a place of truth, has a distinct voice, a way they see the world. So, don't let anyone edit out what is uniquely yours. 

Favorite band or music?  Favorite book and/or movie?

I like almost all kinds of music, but among my favorites are songs from the 1940s and ‘50s, and I’m currently obsessed with the Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen soundtracks, two of the best Broadway shows I’ve ever seen.

For my favorite book, I’d have to go with The Book Thief and for a movie… it’s a tie between Gladiator and Shawshank Redemption.

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?

Just that I really hope they enjoy Sold on a Monday! Also, my fall tour includes about fifty events in a dozen states (yes, I’m clearly insane), so if I have an event near them, I’d absolutely love to meet in person! To find out where I’ll be, they can check out my schedule at www.bit.ly/Sold-Tour

The photo that inspired Kristina to write SOLD ON A MONDAY ~ 

To connect with Kristina:

Website: www.KristinaMcMorris.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KristinaMcMorrisAuthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KrisMcmorris

GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/KristinaMcMorris

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristina.mcmorris

WFWA (Women's Fiction Writers Assn.) Star Award finalists

WFWA ~Three Debut Star Award Contest Finalists

By Anne Pisacano

I'm honored to be the chair this year for the Star Award Contest for Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA). The contest began three years ago and is intended to recognize excellence in Women’s Fiction. The first round judges were instructed to rank the novels from 1-10 based on the organization's definition of women's fiction, which is "layered stories in which the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey".

We recently announced the finalists for the Debut Category. The subgenres of these three novels are a Murder Mystery, Young Adult, and Literary Fiction.

These books will now go out for final judging, and the winner will be announced at our annual retreat in Albuquerque on September 29th. Here are our finalists (in no particular order):

Debut Category:

Kathleen Barber – Are You Sleeping

Published by Simon & Schuster Gallery Books

Serial meets Ruth Ware’s In A Dark, Dark Wood in this inventive and twisty psychological thriller about a megahit podcast that reopens a murder case—and threatens to unravel the carefully constructed life of the victim’s daughter.

The only thing more dangerous than a lie…is the truth.

Josie Buhrman has spent the last ten years trying to escape her family and with good reason. After her father’s murder thirteen years prior, her mother ran away to join a cult and her twin sister Lanie, once Josie’s closest friend and confidant, betrayed her in an unimaginable way. Now, Josie has finally put down roots in New York, settling into domestic life with her partner Caleb, and that’s where she intends to stay.

The only problem is that she has lied to Caleb about every detail of her past—starting with her last name.

When investigative reporter Poppy Parnell sets off a media firestorm with a megahit podcast that reopens the long-closed case of Josie’s father’s murder, Josie’s world begins to unravel. Meanwhile, the unexpected death of Josie’s long-absent mother forces her to return to her Midwestern hometown where she must confront the demons from her past—and the lies on which she has staked her future.

Lori Henriksen - The Winter Loon

Published by Cougar Creek Books

In the shadow of the Great Depression, long before historical changes leading toward LGBTQ advocacy and equality, unpretentious eighteen-year-old Ruth Thompson defies expectations to marry her sweetheart, Duke. Impulsively deciding to join a rodeo circuit with her cousin in order to earn money for college, Ruth comes of age in the rough and tumble male-dominated culture of rodeo competition.

Ruth returns home to Minnesota a prize-winning competitor and resumes her familiar relationship with Duke. Once at college she grows increasingly restless in her role as a sorority girl with Duke as her escort for all social occasions. Her safe existence is upended when she meets confident and free-spirited Gisela and then further unravels when the two women fall in love.

The lives of Gisela and Duke entwine over the years as Ruth embarks on a journey of self-discovery, struggling with deep-rooted societal dogma fraught with the risk of dangerous repercussions and the possibility of losing everyone and everything dear to her. After the U.S. enters WWII, each faces a test of their own fortitude as all three must come to grips with redemption, forgiveness, the meaning of family and how to honor their authentic truth during this perilous time in history.

Both heart wrenching and uplifting, The Winter Loon honors the strength and spirit of all those who grapple with social persecution because of who they love and how they define family whether it is one's own flesh and blood kinfolk and/or those nearest and dearest to their heart.

Orly Konig Lopez -  The Distance Home

Published by Macmillan Forge Books

Sixteen years ago, a tragic accident cost Emma Metz her two best friends—one human and one equine. Now, following her father’s death, Emma has reluctantly returned to the Maryland hometown she’d left under a cloud of guilt.

Sorting through her father’s affairs, Emma uncovers a history of lies tying her broken family to the one place she thought she could never return—her girlhood sanctuary, Jumping Frog Farm.

Emma finds herself drawn back to the stable after all these years. It’s easy to win forgiveness from a horse, but less so from her former friend Jillian, their once strong bond destroyed by secrets and betrayals. But despite Jillian’s cold reception, for the first time in years, Emma feels at home. 

To exorcise the past, Emma will have to release her guilt, embrace an uncertain future, and trust again in the healing power of horses.

Orly Konig's The Distance Home is a powerful and sparkling women's fiction debut novel of second chances, friendship, and healing.

EVERY SINGLE SECRET by author, EMILY CARPENTER

Emotionally guarded Daphne Amos always believed she’d found a kindred spirit in her fiancé, Heath. Both very private people, they’ve kept their pasts hidden from the world, and each other, until Heath’s escalating nightmares begin to put an undeniable strain on their relationship. Determined to give their impending marriage the best chance of succeeding, Heath insists that Daphne join him on a seven-day retreat with Dr. Matthew Cerny, a psychologist celebrated for getting to the root of repressed memories. Daphne reluctantly agrees—even though the past is the last place she wants to go.

The retreat’s isolated and forbidding location increases her unease, as do the doctor’s rules: they must relinquish their keys and phones, they’ll be monitored at all hours by hidden cameras, and they’re never to socialize with the other guests.

One sleepless night, Daphne decides to leave her room…and only then does she realize that the institute is not at all what it seems—and that whatever’s crying out from Heath’s past isn’t meant to be heard. It’s meant to be silenced.

“Every Single Secret takes you on a journey into a dark, surreal world…A true psychological thriller that will leave you breathless.” —Wendy Walker, bestselling author of All Is Not Forgottenand Emma in the Night

“Creepy, twisty, and masterfully crafted. Emily Carpenter nailed the dark and disturbing characters that make up this rich and provocative gothic thriller. Every Single Secret is one of my favorite reads so far this year. I can’t recommend it enough.” —Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Everything Series

“Emily Carpenter begins Every Single Secret on a creepy premise: couples therapy in a remote mountain resort, where every room has eyes—hidden cameras watching every move. Buckle up because this is one hell of a ride, a rocket-paced, edge-of-your-seat story you’ll want to devour in one sitting. A knockout, easily one of my favorite books of the year.” —Kimberly Belle, bestselling author of The Marriage Lie

“A complex, riveting novel of psychological suspense that holds a mirror to the darkest human impulses. A must-read.” —A. J. Banner, USA Today bestselling author of The Twilight Wife

“Emily Carpenter has once again crafted a story full of complicated characters who will keep you guessing until the last page. Every Single Secret deftly explores the risks of hiding from our pasts and the desperation—and danger—of falling blindly into love. A wild, tense ride.” —Victoria Helen Stone, #1 Amazon bestselling author of Evelyn, After

Q & A with Emily ~ 

What are some things you enjoy when not writing?

I’m an avid TV watcher—I think some of the best writing is being done on TV right now, and I feel like watching TV has become a learning experience in addition to entertainment these days. Recently, I’ve been inhaling SHETLAND, based on Ann Cleeves’ books. Each episode is a complex mystery set in a location that feels really fresh and exotic. Plus, there’s a cute detective. Jimmy Perez, hey!

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

The main challenge for me was being resolute and relentless in revising the book (BURYING THE HONEYSUCKLE GIRLS), while keeping myself from giving up. That book really went through many stages and transformations—from a magical realism-based story to something more realistic and grounded, and my agent was incredibly instrumental in guiding it and encouraging me to explore new options. She also kept the faith in such a way that I never lost mine, for which I will forever be indebted to her.

  

How do you market your work?

Marketing is the hardest part of my job, I’ll be honest. It just feels awkward sometimes. I’ve seen lots of people do it in ways I’m not all that excited about. For me, I like the personal approach, and I really try to connect with readers in authentic ways. I love book clubs because they provide a face-to-face real-time way to interact—and have fun—with readers. Social media can sometimes feel icky when you’re promoting your book 24/7, and I’d rather just interact with people about real things, funny things I observe about life or whatever, instead of shouting about my books. On Facebook, I always end up talking about other authors I love or books I’m interested in reading, and that’s really important to me.

What are you working on now?

My next book, which is a bit of a departure from the previous ones. It’s less of a Southern Gothic slow-burn and more of a balls-to-the-wall adventure thriller. (Can I say that?) It’s about a mother and teenage daughter who realize someone has sabotaged the financial app the mother created, and they have to use their smarts and the technology to find their way back to each other. I’ve actually loved writing it. It’s got more action than anything I’ve written yet, not to mention two female characters who are smart, resourceful and super-badass.

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?

Not one bit! That’s the best part of writing. You can invent whole new worlds.

Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?

In EVERY SINGLE SECRET, I really loved writing about Daphne’s experiences in the group home, at the girls' ranch. I was so entranced by the girls she got thrown in to live with—the Super Tramps. Every time I would wrap up a section about them, I couldn’t wait to revisit their story. Omega, especially, was a character I ended up really loving—and also wondering about. She was fascinating and also tragic, and her backstory was so interesting to me, although I didn’t explore it in the book.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Get good advice from people who will be real with you. How do you need to improve? What should you be doing differently in your writing? It’s sometimes tough to swallow—but steel yourself and ask really wise, experienced people what your writing lacks. In the end, you’ll be humbled, but glad you listened.

What are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?

There are no bad parts, truly. It’s just such fun to write books that people read and enjoy.

Place you’d like to travel?

I’m planning a trip to the UK to visit the homeplaces and haunts of all my literary heroes. It’s literally the nerdiest trip anyone has ever planned. Stay tuned.  

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you. It’s because of you that I can write books. It really touches me that you are willing to join me in the lives of these characters. I wish I could hug you all!

To connect with Emily:

website. https://emilycarpenterauthor.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/ecarpenterauthor

Twitter: @EmilyDCarpenter